I vote no. I feel like MMA follows Boxing and Wrestling. It relies more on competition results to judge progress than on a subjective ranking system. Plus it would look stupid to have guys walking to the ring with karate belts on and no Gi.

How do you measure the skills you have in MMA? You cannot reduce MMA to certain techniques you want to test, after all it is only a ruleset and winning fights under these rules is everything that matters. Melvin Manhoef for example couldn't get an MMA black belt because the only thing he can do is punch and kick, but he wins professional MMA fights so he's very good at MMA.
A black belt system for MMA would be nothing but a paradox.

How do you measure the skills you have in MMA? You cannot reduce MMA to certain techniques you want to test, after all it is only a ruleset and winning fights under these rules is everything that matters..

Many arts have techniques that must be learned to earn a belt rank. MMA is mixed Martial Arts. ARTS. Because most arts have basic moves that are used as base skills, a way to judge progress is ranking by awarding a belt. Belts, hello kitty patches, little stripes indicate a ranking the same way your letter grades in school gave a grade point average. So that argument is false.

Originally Posted by Monkfg

Melvin Manhoef for example couldn't get an MMA black belt because the only thing he can do is punch and kick, but he wins professional MMA fights so he's very good at MMA. ..

I see what your are saying, and at the same time he may be fighting in an MMA event, he is basically kickoxing so I miss the analogy. Kickboxing, not MMA.

To create and maintain an "MMA" belt rank or even MMA system, there must be different martial arts. A codified MMA belt system will ultimately lead to (ideally) integration of all the techniques from the different arts involved. The outcome would be a new martial aart and thus no longer MMA.

This post makes me wanna go to the nearest convenience store and judo throw someone's ass austin power's style.......this also makes me wanna go back in time so i could train with bruce lee,chuck norris,as well as black belt jones:)

The UFC can control the ranks/experience levels of the fighters that are competing with the original federations.

Technically the sportpromoters of MMA competitions can controle the ranks/experience of their competing fighters.

A "MMA governing organisation" can only establish/standarize the requirements of teachers and fighters and maybe give a quality label to schools that teach "MMA" if they pass the requirements.
That's all.

So a NO to an unified governing MMA organisation and NO to black belts in MMA. (my 2 cents)

Originally Posted by Jiujitsu77

You know you are crazy about BJJ/Martial arts when...

Originally Posted by Humanzee

...your books on Kama Sutra and BJJ are interchangeable.

Originally Posted by jk55299 on Keysi Fighting Method

It looks like this is a great fighting method if someone replaces your shampoo with superglue.